Trouble in the 109th Division (Misamis Oriental Province west of Tagoloan river to Bukidnon)

This song is about a guerrilla incident that happened in Tagnipa (El Salvador City), about a conflict between two guerrilla factions of Maj. Manuel Jaldon and that of Maj. Angeles Limena. The shootout occurred in Bolisong where one of Jaldon’s trusted Lieutenants was killed. Temporary 3rd Lieutenant Zosimo ‘Zosing’ Roa died while taking cover behind a coconut tree when a bullet from an Enfield rifle penetrated the coco trunk and struck Zosing Roa between the eyes. He was buried in a rocky cemetery at El Salvador.

Si Jaldon ug si Limena Jaldon and Limena

Sila ray nag gidiferenciahan had their differences

Nag-ilog sa katungdanan they fought- over their rights

Sa Bolisong sila nag combate they fought in Bolisong

Na matyan ug usa ka teniente one Lieutenant was killed

Walay lain si Zosing Roa!( no other than Zosing Roa!

(Fidel L. Monforte, 83 years old of El Salvador City 4 January, 2013)

T-3rd Lt. Zosimo Roa at right wearing sunglasses. He was making a small fortune running cargoes through the Japanese blockage when he volunteered his enthusiasm and energy to Col. Fertig.(From the book: Guerrilla Padre By Father James Edward Haggerty)

The 109th Division

The 109th Division garrisoned that portion of Misamis Oriental West of the Tagoloan River and the Province of Bukidnon. It consists of the 109th, 111th, 112th, and 117th Infantry Regiment. The first Commanding Officer was Lt. Col. Robert V. Bowler. He was Succeeded by Lt. Col. James Grinstead on November 21 1943. Grinstead was later assigned later as CO, 106th Division. Lt. Col Cecil Walter succeeded him as CO, 109th Division on June 25 1945.

109th Infantry Regiment: This regiment garrisoned that portion of the province of Misamis Oriental lying between Cagayan River and the Pangayawan River. It was activated on 14 Mar 1943.

Maj. Manuel Jaldon

Nov. 28 1942, Major Manuel Jaldon who with some loyal officers and men took refuge in Himaya ( a sitio of El Salvador, Mis. Or.) during the first week of Oct. 1942 called a conference of all guerrilla leaders and civilians. The purpose of it was to unify all guerrilla units under one command and also, to organize a civil government. In this conference, assignments were made and Jaldon being the Senior Officer, was voted Commanding Officer.

Maj. Angeles Limena

Lieut. Angeles Limena who organized a unit of his own at Initao, Misamis Oriental, preferred to remain independent. He called his sector the ‘West Misamis Oriental Sector’ with himself as leader. This sector lies West of the Alubijid River. Limena also selected his own staff and officers. Jaldon established his headquarters at Tuburan and Limena in the vicinity of Alubijid.

In early December 1942, the West Misamis Oriental Sector was organized into the 109th Infantry Regiment with Limena as commanding Officer. He was later relieved by Jaldon pursuant to CO #11, dated Jan 1943. Limena refused to be relieved. This was the start of a clash which threatened to take a serious turn were it not for the timely and effective intervention of Col. Wendell Fertig.

Jaldon and Limena Clash

On 12 February, the forces of Jaldon and Limena had a clash at Bolinao, upper El Salvador which resulted in the death of T-3rd Lieut. Zosimo Roa, Jaldon’s Officer. The clash was brief after which Limena brought his forces to Initao.

Col. Fertig created a Board of Officers, Chairman of which was Lt. Col. Mortera, commanding officer 105th Division charged with the duty of investigating the Jaldon-Limena imbroglio. Jaldon retained the command of the 109th Infantry Regiment but was later transferred and made commanding Officer of the 121st Inf. Regiment, 105th Division.

Capt. Akas Suliek was designated Commanding Officer, 109th Infantry Regiment. On June 29 1943, just a few hours after Suliek took command; he was shot to death by 1st Sgt. Prudencio Suralio, a discontented soldier of the Head Quarters and the HQ Service Company, 109th Infantry Regiment.

After Grinstead was given authority by higher headquarters, he designated 1st Lieut. Marcelino Barillo as Acting Regimental Commander, 109th Inf. Reg. Then Barillo in November 1943, was relieved and Capt. Fidencio M. Laplap, later Major at 23 years old, took his place as Regimental Commander, 109th Infantry Regiment.

Father Edward Haggerty S.J. with Major Fidencio Laplap after the war.

What happened to Limena’s Command?
Limena, was still leader of the West Mindanao Sector less his combat Infantry who were broken up a distributed all around the 10th Military District. He was in a floating status pending Criminal Charges for the extra judicial killings made by his men in Cagayan de Oro and in the areas covered by the West Mindanao Sector Guerrillas particularly in Alubijid. After the war, several of his men, ever loyal to Maj. Limena owned up to the deaths of the civilians while Maj. Angeles Limena brilliantly defended accusations against him and was reinstated into the Military service. Jaldon became a politician in Zamboanga City.